That’s not too important to me… I mean it is important that the songs have that deep quality of having been passed around, but the important thing is more that they are “passed around” than that they are “passed down.”

What’s the best thing about living in Vermont (and do you still live there)?

I currently am mostly itinerant but living in New York City and spending some time in London too… but I miss Vermont and go back whenever I can. It’s mountains are the correct size.

How has touring been so far? What are the best/worst aspects of touring?

I like wandering, and touring is a form of wandering. It can be a very boring form of wandering though, so you have to think about how you are going to make it less boring. It helps to go to strange places, or get there in strange ways.

Sam Amidon, photo via Myspace

What tips do you have for aspiring musicians who are trying to make music their primary income?

I would say, keep your costs low, and focus more on whether your musical experiences are fun than worrying about whether it is full time or not. I used to be totally committed to doing music full time, and then I realized that was actually restricting me a lot because it meant I could only take jobs that paid money. So a few years ago I got a job as a typist, transcribing TV interviews, and that was incredibly freeing actually, and allowed me to worry a lot less about the money side of music, which then ironically led to me playing more music, and more different kinds of music. And on top of that I got to go transcribe these crazy interviews all day. It was amazing!

Chloe - Pennywise Reporter

Chloe's youth was split between California and Kauai, frolicking on a macadamia nut farm in the tropics and landing finally in the Bay Area. Raised by super-Jew hippies, and the youngest of three sisters, Chloe learned early the virtues of thrift, economy, and green living. To the chagrin of her parents (who hoped, of course, for a Jewish doctor or lawyer), Chloe has put her degree from UC Berkeley to great use by becoming a folk singer. As "Chloe Makes Music" she plays shows throughout SF and beyond, donning vintage frocks, selling handmade merch, and pinching pennies as she sings for her supper. Calling Berkeley home for the last six years, you can think of Chloe as the website's East Bay Correspondent, opening your eyes to the hippie-filled, tree-hugging, organic-loving, vegan-eating, but way-overlooked and awesome assets of Berkeley, Oakland, and beyond.

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